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23Sandy Gallery is pleased to present a superb new edition by one of the smartest artists working in the book form today. Casey Gardner’s books are always beautifully designed, gloriously illustrated, sumptuously letterpress printed and most off all, whip-smart, well-conceived and deep works. On top of all of that she is a very talented writer who will make you wonder at the might of her words.

This series of books reckons with gravity as a universal, yet intimate force holding everything in perpetual motion and relationship. Each book explores how we live with forces we cannot always control, but rely upon; forces that we can- not see, but feel.

Magnetically held in a sturdy portfolio printed to reveal the science behind gravity, each of the three books tells a tale of this vital and mysterious force in terms of falling, climbing and orbiting.

The Gravity Series by Casey Gardner

So finely tuned is gravity, that if its quantity had been infinitesimally altered, our universe could not have emerged and life would not exist. As one of the four fundamental forces of the universe, gravity is strong enough to hold galaxies together as they reel around the cosmos, and precise enough to give weight to each individual held on earth. Like love, gravity is an unseen yet essential force.

HOW TO FALL: Gravity guides our velocity into the unknown. In life, things can fall into place, fall in or out of line, or through the cracks; so many ways to fall. Falling in love is a plunge of in nite permutations, and varying weights.This sublime catapult can be exhilarating yet daunting when a new center of the universe emerges. Meanwhile, falling is a lapse of control, of abandon, and falling from grace can unleash havoc.

ALL THERE IS: This book is about trust, finding your own center of gravity and moving your own weight. Humans are forces of nature nding their own way amidst forces of nature. Climb- ing is a negotiation of gravity while tethered to another. Sometimes letting go is the way to progress and rise.

The Gravity Series by Casey Gardner

A STAR CLOSE ENOUGH: In orbits, two mutually attracted bodies revolve around a joint center of mass, located in the space between them. In relationship, two bodies move closer together and farther apart as they mediate their distance, following the shape of their orbital path. Meanwhile, our earth is gravitationally bound in the most propitious orbit around our sun, making us just the right distance to receive its life-giving energy.

Listened to this Julie Chen podcast today and learned that her exhibit at UW in Seattle ends on June 30. Be sure to see the show before it comes down. The podcast is a recording of her talk to kick off the exhibition. I got a peek at the show when I was there last month. Julie’s process work was fascinating to see. Highly recommended.

23 Sandy Gallery is pleased to announce our BUILT award winners. This very smart exhibition is still on view in the gallery, so stop by soon to see the show if you happen to be in Portland.

BUILT is an international juried exhibition of book and paper art examining the relationship between contemporary book art practices and architecture, engineering, landscape and construction as form, function and structure. Book artists took this opportunity to re-imagine the ways we as designers, of either books or buildings can inhabit and shape the world around us. Our disciplines have a natural synergy. After all, books and buildings are both kinetic, sequential, structural and time based. BUILT examines the relationship between the built and the book.

So, without further ado, here are our BUILT award winners:

BEST OF SHOW AWARD

The Animals’ Entry into Jerusalem by Susan Collard

Shown above, this book has been a gallery visitor favorite! Created using reclaimed building materials and furniture scraps, this book is very “built.” Over many years of creating sought after books, Sue Collard has mastered working with unusual materials, creating unique books with thoughtful, studied narrative as cohesive sculptural works. Click here to see more photos of this stunning work.

Kalendarium Hortense by Amy Arnold

PURCHASE PRIZE AWARDS

Congratulations to the following artists selected by Sandra Kroupa, curator of the artist book collection at the University of Washington. These books will be purchased by 23 Sandy gallery and donated to the library.

Congratulations to all of our BUILT award winners and to every talented artist who participated in this stellar exhibition. Selecting these awards was difficult in a show filled with so many superb works.